Eidul Azha prayers offered across Pakistan amid tightened security

Eidul Azha was celebrated across Pakistan on Wednesday with religious devotion, prayers for national peace and prosperity, and tight security arrangements at mosques, Eidgahs and open prayer grounds.

In Islamabad, Eid prayers were offered at Faisal Mosque as rain made the weather pleasant in the federal capital. Large congregations were also held in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Dera Ismail Khan, Mohmand and other cities.

In Peshawar, Eid prayers were offered at the central Eidgah on Charsadda Road under the imamat of Maulana Tayyab Qureshi. A large number of citizens attended the congregation, where special prayers were offered for Pakistan’s security, peace and prosperity, as well as for the Muslims of Palestine and Kashmir.

Security tightened in Punjab

Punjab Inspector General of Police Abdul Kareem extended Eid greetings to citizens, police officers and personnel, saying security had been increased across the province, including Lahore.

He said police were on high alert and that worshippers and citizens were being provided full security. Additional personnel were deployed at sensitive mosques, imambargahs, Eidgahs, open spaces and parks.

According to Punjab Police, Eid congregations were scheduled at 30,630 mosques and 907 open places across the province. More than 45,000 police officers and personnel were deployed for security, while 316 special teams of the Quick Response Force were also on duty. In Lahore alone, over 11,000 officers and personnel were assigned to secure more than 5,000 gatherings.

The IG directed supervisory officers to personally monitor security and traffic arrangements. Dolphin Squad, Police Response Unit and Elite Force teams were ordered to continue patrolling around worship places and graveyards. He also called for strict implementation of SOPs regarding the collection of sacrificial hides and ordered close monitoring of banned outfits and individuals placed on the Fourth Schedule.

Political leaders extend greetings

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah on Eidul Azha, saying the occasion carries a message of sacrifice, love, obedience to Allah and selflessness. He paid tribute to the martyrs of the country and their families, saying those who sacrificed their lives for Pakistan were the nation’s true heroes.

In Balochistan, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti extended Eid greetings to Pakistanis, particularly the people of Balochistan. He said Eidul Azha teaches sacrifice, selflessness and brotherhood. Referring to the recent Quetta tragedy, he said the provincial government had decided to mark Eid with simplicity and expressed solidarity with the victims of terrorism.

Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau also extended Eid greetings, urging citizens to promote love, brotherhood and compassion, and to include deserving people in Eid celebrations.

Prayers for peace, prosperity

In Quetta, Eid prayers were offered at hundreds of Eidgahs and mosques under strict security arrangements. Governor Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail offered Eid prayers at Governor House, while Chief Minister Bugti also offered Eid prayers in Quetta.

In Raiwind, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif offered Eid prayers at Jati Umra along with members of the Sharif family. He later visited the graves of his parents, wife and brother, and laid flowers there.

In Dera Ismail Khan, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi offered Eid prayers at Jamia Masjid Muhammadi in his native village Kokar, where special prayers were offered for national development, stability and peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.